Means for electroplating rods, pipes, &amp;c.



No. 891,361. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908.

1). H MURPHY; MEANS FOR ELEGTROPLATING RODS; PIPES, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1907.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

'PATENTED J N 23, 1908.

DLH. MURPHY. MEANS FOR ELBGTROPLATING RODS PIPES; 330.

smarts-SHEET 2.

l6 I, a

APPLICATION IILBD OUT. 30, 190

No. 891,361, I PATENTS!) JUHRZBJML D. H. MURPHY.

MEANS FOR'ELEGTROPLATING RODS, PIPES, 6w.

APPLIGATIOH IILED .OOT. 30, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3'.

witness as;

To all whom it may concern:

' DANIEL n YEs MURPHY, OF cAsrLn, IENNSYLYANIA}.

MEANSFOR ELECTBOPLATIING RODS, r ms, ac.

Be it known that I, DANIEL rHY, acitizen of the United States, residing at vNew'Castle, in the-county of Lawrence 'and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Means for Electroplating" Rods, Pipe, ;&c.j, (Case No. 1,) of which the following is a full; clear, concise, and exactdescription, =referencebeing had to the ac- 'coinpanying drawings, forming a part of'this specification. The object of my invention is to provide an improved means for electroplating ipe, rod and similararticles with a view to "ohminating -many of the difficulties that have heretofore existed. In the past it hasfrequently occurred, particularly in connection with electroplating pipe on the inside, that the internal anodes, which have heretofore been made of the same-material that'it is de sired todeposit, have becornebent and','as a result, caused unequal deposits at different portions of the internalsurface of the-pipe, This-has caused serious difficulty and loss, which is prevented my process by the =means I employ "to ec'wialira the electrolytic action between the anode and the inside sur face of the pipe.

Briefly stated, my invention consists in supporting the internal anode in the pipe in sue a ma'nner that it is rigidly held so 'aslto be incapable of rotation, while the pipe Within whichitis secured is caused to rotate. As

a-result of this, since theanoderests upon the inner portion of the pipe, being removed therefromby suitable insulating means, the electrolytic action from thefanode .to the internal surface of the'pipe is maintained uni- 7 "form and an even,smooth-ooatingof the material used is seoured. It'has frequently 0c curred in connection w1th'processes used heretofore, in the internal anode. has been free to 'move with the inolosing pipe,

that inth'e event-:etthe' anode becoming bent or'outofshape so thatit did not occupy its deposit on t Specification OLtt91f8 Patent HAYn's Mun-' pipe and eel off,

troplate thefpipe both inside and outer e';* and this I accomplish by using anelectrolyte containing in solution the material gtd be de-' posited and by usin from the internal anode to the inside surface made between the internelkanodesand conductors with, which they-were imwe' contact," there was great tendency ti) variation inresistance at'zsuchnontact 11d 5 M e al, as hammer readily part frointhe'inner sur aee thus resulting .i f ,was't' n poor Wor r It is a further object of my invent1' h equalize the deposit upon the inner and'pu tersurfaces of the pipe when 1t is-desired toie lzec' other material thim that to be deposited or'constructing the internal anodes, Whil'etheanodes need outside of the pipe are preferably made =fromvthe material to be deposited. As ar'esulh of :this,

the material deposited on the inside surface of the pipe must necessarily come entirely '70 from the electrolyte, and hencetheactionis slower than would otherwise' bethe-case and a uniform coating is secured; but .on acc'ount of the relatively short path for, currentlflow of the pipe compared with the currentiflow from the outside anodes 13011118 outside sur face of the pipe, the actions insideand ont side of the pipe are practically -equa1iaed," 9 that at no time is there anexcesslve' deposit insidethe pipe. .7 An thergreat advantage :in my system is that since thepipes aresupportedandmotated', and the anodes inside the pipeare netlcalled upon to support the pipe, there is ncdan'g'er of breaking down the insulation placed w around the internal anodes, and hencef the liability of short circuits bet een the mernal anodes .and'the pipeismemoved. v

Another advantage of my invention isthat I am able to make 'rigid connecti'cnbetwe'en theoutside circuitand the internal-anodes, since these anodesido not rotate, and-hence I am able to improve theresults that have characterized processes heretofore iusedf in .r t s' connect1on, 1n' proees'ses-heretcfore..use 1 that-on account of the :poor contact us ia 1B0 hence great-variation=inthe charactr of he deposit at difierentrtimes; By using intrirl "h g i I lead itj-is' desir d to" deposit softer :metalyeais or zinc, the cost of production is finu'ch,

9 'Whiehthe-internal 3110(18SWGI8P61111I1313Q to rotate. The reason for poor results shows,

duced, since the first cost of the anodes is much less and the waste of material deposited is almost entirely eliminated.

The several. drawings illustrating myinvention are as follows:

Figure 1 is ato ploy for accomp *shing' my invention and partially in diagram, the mechanism as well, as the electrical connections involve used; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

taken along the broken line .r-y in Fig. 1; Fig. -8 is a transverse sectional view-taken along the broken line w y in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 'is an enlarged detailed view of-one end of a pipe having "theinterior anode'in place for plating such pipe ;;Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed views of the means that may be used to securely connect the interior anodes to the circuit of the generator used for plating the pipe; Fig. 7 is a top view of a modified form of my invention and Fig. 8 is-a longitudinal sectional view taken along-the broken line a y of Fig. 7.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in the several'views of drawing,

T is a tank for holding the electrolyte to be B used in the operation, the upper surface of this electrolyte being indicated by the dotted' line 2 in Fig. 2. In this electrolyte conductors g, .incased on-all except the upper surfaces by suppo'rtingand insulating bars h, are adapted to move transversel' of the tank upon suitable rollers t supporte by brackets from the tank T. These conductors g and the bars attached to them are secured at one end to bent bars m slidably. supported in bearings is from the tank T' and are engaged at their outer ends by connecting rods which serve to communicate motion to such bent bars from crank diskss su ported by shaft 8, in suitable bearings 8 his shaft 3 ma] be driven by any suitable means, as 'pulleywin a mannergnot indicated. The conductors g. are-adapted to supportthe rods 1', 1- 1" and the pipe p that it is desired to plate. Pins, b of insulating material, preferably-,wood, are located between the several rods and pipe and are supported from crossbars (1 secured to the bottom of the tank-T.

As a result'of the construction just described, it will be observed that when the shaft 8 is rotated the conductors 9 will be moved back and forth and tend to carry the rods and pipe supportedthereon with them, but since this motion is opposed by the pins b-the result is torotate these rods and pipe with practically no'lateral displacement ofthe same in the tank T.

Suitable anodes a are disposed beneath th rods and pipe to be plated and are suported in ,pro er position in'the electrolyte hy meansof b ocks c from the bottom of the tank T Inorder to plate the ortion of the pipe normally protected from c ectrolytic acview of the means I emand 6 and consists, as

clam ing bar e. .terna trolyte' to the pi posed in the tank T in suc cured to the end piece 7, guides 9 secured to the upper -;posed in the electrolyte above the pipe and above the conductors g. Toefiect the plating of the insideof the pipe internal anodes a are used, extending from one end of the pipe to the other andrigidly'secured, as indicated at e e to one terminal of the circuit used for supplying the current required. This securing means is more clearly indicated'in Figs; 5

indicated, in eccentrically pivoted levers e adapted to clamp the electrodes a firmly'in contact'with the common bar a in the modification shown in Fig. 5, or with the individual connectingteh minal e 'as indicated in Fig. 6. Either of these methods may be used,;but in most cases I- find it desirable to employ thecommon In order to'prevent the inanodes a from making electrical contact with the pipe p, a strip of insulation, as a consisting of twine, india rubber, or similar substance, is spirally wound around such anodes and secured thereto in any desired manner,- not shown.

x G re resents a generator for furnishin current, t e circuit from which is as fol ows:

eginning at the positive terminal of such generator through conductor 1, switch 4,1egulating resistance R, positive bus bars 3-to the several anodes a, a, a through the elece, thence to' theconductors g and returning y negative bus bar.2 to the generator G. Blades u, rigidl' attached to the bars h, are provided for t e purpose of agitating the e ectrolyte as the bars are moved reciprocally.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8 I.-have indicated a means for'moving the rods and.pipe longitudinally of the tank T, which I have sometimes found desirable for the purpose of more thoroughly plating the portlons of the pipe normallyprotected from electrol tic action b the conductors g and pins 12.

shown in these figures, a frame'consisting of side pieces 5, 5 and .end ieces 6, 7 is dis a manner that the end pieces ,6, 7 on age the ends of the rods and pipe. The end piece 6 is preferably notched, as indicated, on its upper edge to receive the anodes a. Bent bars 8 are sech end bars being supported in edge of the tank T and connected at their outer ends b links lOto cranks 11 carried b shaft 12. T 's shaft is supported in suitab e bearings 14 and carries an operating lever 13. When it is desired to me ve -he rods and pipe lon itudinally of the tank fut may be accomplis ed by moving the lever 13 either up or down, and by, means of neoted thereto the framework above men the mechanisnrcontioned is moved longitudinally of the tank T and carries with it the rods and pipe. It is evident that this operation may be 'madeuse of or not, according to the nature of the work B a-em to be done, and in any particular case the rods'and pipe may be moved longitudinally of thetank as often as necessary during the platingoperation to secure the results de- 'tL lia-vefound When'allof the anodes are constructed of the. material it is desired to deposit, that on account of the current path in the' electrolyte between the internal anodes and the" pipe being shorter than the current p'atlnfroni the outside anodes-through the electrolyte to the pipe, there is" an excessive deposit inside o'f the pipe, 'asa result of which there is waste of the plating material andalso a tendency to poor results. In this case the deposit has a'tendency tohe porous and does-not adhere strongly to the surface of the pipe. I have found that a very eiiective Way of overcoming this difficulty is to make theinternal anodes of some other material than the material to be deposited. and have found ironor-steel to beadmirable for this urpose, since'it is-quite rigid and is a suitable conductor of electricity for this urpose. The materials usually deposite in Work of this class are Zinc, lead, etc, and when the internal anodes are constructed of these materials, they are very readily bent out of shape with corresponding liability of making contact directly with the inside "sur face of the pipe.

. more liable to deformation, are much more expensive than iron or steel anodesand result in poorer Work, even when they are in good condition, for the reasons mentioned above. In order to facilitate the use of iron or steel anodes. in my plating, operation, I find the "following electrolytes answer very satisfac- 40.-t Y- li i'ca'se it is desired to use an alkaline elec trol'yte, lco'mbine oyanid, carbonate of zinc and'pot'a'sh With the requisite amount of water, and in case I desire to use an acid'electrolyte I combin'efzinc sulfate,1sodium sulfate," 7inc chlorid and boric acid with a suit able amount of water. i r

I have shown. herein one particular embodiment of my invention, I do n'ot,'how ever, rnit myself to this-construction; but desii cjto cover broadly by my claims the manymodifications that will suggest themselves' to those skilled in the art.

lfclaim is: I v s a means for electroplating metallic rods or pipe, a tank and an electrolyte therein, auanode in such electrolyte, a source of elect lenergy, means" outside of and under dsor pipe for supporting the same in such Ielectrolytegmeans for closing a circuit from such sou .15? through such. anode, such electrolyte and such rods or pipe and means.

forfl-movingsuch rods or pipe without displacing them relatively to such tank.

'2. its a. means for clectroplatmgmetalhc lnter'nal a'nodes constructed of these. softer materials, besides being such preventing means causingsuch rcc ls [pipe in such ele'ctrolytey'a seamen electr anode adapted to be contained-within-s trolyte a source of electric' e "rods or pipe, a tank and an electrolyte therein, an anode in such"elec'trolyte%, -a1 sourcesof electric energy, means outsiderotsand rind-era such rods or pipe for suppcrtingthe same in such electrolyte, means for preventingdat eral motion of such rods gor'pipe in suchttanl a means for closing a circuitfrom =si1ch4soi1rc through such anode, 'such electrolyib ands such rods or pipe and'm ansfor otati-ngsuch rods or pipe. :1

3. Asa means for electrop at rods or pipe, a tank andian-electrp in, an anode in such electrolyte; electric energy, conductors to such rods-or pi e in such electrolyte ime for preventing ateral motionzofsuch r"ds o pipe in such tank, meansfor closing ironic-m from such source throughsu'ch anode electrolyte, such rods 'or pip'e and sue ductors and means formoving?such*cbndiic "g torsand thereby rotating such-rods on pipe 4. As a means forelectir'o lati ng i rnetallic rods or pipe, a tank and an e ectrolytethere in, an anode in such electrolytea *source of electric energy, conductors for si'ipporting' gg such rods orpipe in such'electrolyte, means for. closing a circuit from such source through such anode, such electrolyte, such- -rods "or pipe and such conductors, 'means'fer rec ip rocally moving such conductors laterallyiof' -b such'rods or pipe andmeansr rp eveaan elateral displacement of suchT'ods-oi pipe';

pipe to rotate as such'conductor are ov'e reciprocally. J

5. As a means for electroplating metall c pipe, a tank and an electrolyte therein,--*an anode adapted to be contained withiesue energy, means for supportings horizontally in such electrdlyte,f closing a circuit from' such curceuu such anode, -such electrolyte and rich e means for preventingcontact'bc'ttvee "sue anode and such pipe and meansfor r'ot such pipe relatively to suchlanodef 6. As a means for electroplating me pipe, a tank and an el'ectrbl' eithereiiifa pipe in such electrolyte,ajS'OurceFbflpc e11ergy,"means for supportin fsu ch pip m such electrolyte, means for 6 being} from such source through. such aired electrolyte and .such pi eiand" mean -f uniformly distributing-the currentfic f such anodeto the insides'urface o suchpi when such anodeis notfparallel wit-h suchpip 7 As ameans rerfeiectioplsfingmete11c pipe, a tank and en el trolyt'th taining. the materialt "'de'posi ducting anode" of anoth material contained in suchel'ectfolyte andadapte dj-to be contained Within suchpip ch ele'c n i it,

for supra.

was I means for closing a circuit from such source through such anode, such electrolyte and such pipe, means for preventing electrical contact etween such anode and such pipe and means for rotating such pipe relatively to such anode, such anode serving to equal ize the deposit upon such pipe. 8. As a means for electroplating metallic pipe, a tank and an electrolyte thereincontaming the metal tobedeposited, a conducting anode of another material than that contained insuchelectrolyte and adapted to be contained within, such pipe in such electrolyte, a source of electric energy means for supporting such pipe in such e ectrolyte, means" orclosing a circuit from such source through. such anode, such electrolyte and such pipe, means forpreventing electrical contact between such anode and such 1pipe, means for rotating such pipe relative y to such anode, such anode serving to equalize the deposit .uponsuch pipe and detachable conductor of such circui 9. As a means for electroplating pipe, a tank and an, electrolyte therein, an'anode adapted to be contalned Within such pipe in such electrolyte, ananode in such electrolyte outside of such pipe,. a source of electric energy, means for supporting such pipe in such electrolyte, means for closing a circuit fromsuch source through such anodes, suchelectrol te and such pipe and means for rotating suc pipe relatively to suchinternal anode. I

10 As a means for electroplating pipe, a tank' and anelectrolyte therein, an anode adapted to be contained within such pipe in such electrolyte, an anode in such electrolyte 40 means for rigldly securing such anode to a outside of such pi e, a source of electric energy, conductors or supporting suchpipe in such electrolyte, means'for closing a circuit from such source through such anodes, .such electrolyte, such pipe and such conductors, means-for reciprocally moving such conductors laterally of 'suchpipe and means for Ipreventing lateral motion of such pipe in suc tank whereby the motion of such con- 'ductor rotates such pipe. a 5D. 1 1. a means for electroplating pipe, a tank and an electrolyte therein containing the material to "be deposited, a conduct- -ing anode of another material than that contained in such electrolyte and adapted to be contained in such pipe in such elecposlted'located in such electrolyte outside of such pipe, means for. supporting'such pipe in such electrolyte and means for closing a oncuit'from such source through such anodes,

ence in com osition of such anodes serving to equalize t e deposit on the'inside and outside of thepipe. I

a means tor electroplating pipe, a

- circuit trolyte, an anode of the material to be de-.

tank and an electrolyte therein, conductors li adapted to support such pipe in such electr'o adapted to be contained within such 1 such electrolyte, an anode insuch e lyte outside of such pipe, means for closing a from such source through such-w; anodes, such electrolyte, such pipe and such :2

tion of such plpe in such tank, means for 5 reciprocally moving such supportin co'n ductors laterally ofsuch pipe and t ereby rotating such pipe and means for rigidly 0 m anode. c

I 13. As a meansfor electroplating pipe, a tankand an electrolyte therein containing the material to be deposited, movable'con- \such anodes, such electrolyte, such pi e and. 4 v

such conductors, stops for reventing ateral motion of such pipe 1n such tank, means for reciprocally moving such supportin conductors laterally of such pipe and t ereby rotating such pipe, means for reventin electrical contact between suc interna anode and such pi e, detachable means for rigidly securing suc internal anode to a conductor of such circuit and thereby prevent ing rotation of such internal anode and means for agitating such electrolyte.

14. As a means for electroplating metallic pipe, a tank and an electrolyte therein contaming thematerial to be deposited, a conducting anode of another material than that contained in such electrolyte and ada ted to trolyte, a source of electric energy, means .for supporting such pipe in such electrolyte, means for closing a circuit from such source to such anode, such'electrolyte and such pi 15. As a means for electroplating pipe, a tank and an electrolyte therein containing the material to be deposited, a conducting tained in such electrolyte and ada ted to be' contained in suchpipe in such e ectrolyte, an anode of the material to be deposited located in such electrolyte outside of such lyte, a source of elect-r10 energy, an anodeffl conductors, stops for preventing lateral mo 1. v

necting snch mternal anode to such circuit -:ic 1 and thereby preventing rotation ofsuch 0 doctors adapted to support-such pipe insuch 85 be contained within such pipe in suc elecand means for rotating such pipe relative y anode of another material than that conpipe, means for supporting such pipe in such A .5 '17. As ameans for electroip rods or pipe, a tank and an e e electrolyte,-means for closing a circuit from such source through such anodes, such electrolyte and such pipe and means for rotating such pipe relativel 16-, As a means or electroplating metallic to such internal anode.

rods or pipe, a tank and an electrolyte therein, an'anode in such electrolyte, a source of means for supporting such rizontally in suc electrolyte, or closing a circuit from such source anode, such electrolyte and tive'ly to such tank. and means for moving such rods or pipe longitudinall in such tank.

ating metallic. ctrolyte theren', an anode in such electrolyte, a source of electric" energy, conductors for supporting lyte, means "such rods or pipe 1n such tank, .means for rods or pipe longitudinally zonta ly in such electrolyte,

such rods or pipe horizontally in such electroor preventing lateral motion of closing acircuit from such source through such anode, such electrolyte, such rods or pipe and such conductors, means for moving such conductors, and means for moving such in such tank. 18.- As a means forelectr'olating metallic pipe, a tank, and an electro yte therein, an anode adapted to be contained Within such pipe in such electrolyte, a source of electric energ means for supporting such pi e horimeans ing a circuit from such source through such anode, such electrolyte and such pipe, means for preventing contactbetween such anode pipe in such'electrolyte,

and such pipe, means -relatl'vely to such anode, and means for movfor rotating suchpipe ing such pipe longitudinally in such tank.

19. As a means for electroplating metallic pipe, a tank and an electrolyteutherein, an

anode adapted to be contained within such a source of electric energ means for supporting such pipe hori- I such electrolyte and such pipe,

contact between such 'pipe ,relatively to such zonta ly n-such electrolyte, means for closing a circuit from such source through such anode, such electrolyte and such pipe, means for uniformly distributing the current flow from-such anode to the inside surface of such pipe when such anode is not parallel with such pi e, and means for moving such pipe -longitu inally in such tank.

, 20. As a means for electroplating metallic pipe, a tankand an electrolyte therein containing the material to be deposited, a conducting anode of another material than that contained in such electrolyte, a source of electric energy, means for supporting such pipe in such electrolyte, means for-closing a circuit from such source throughsuch anode, means for preventing electrical anode'and such pipe, means for rotating such serving to equalize such tank orclossuch rods or pipe, means for rotatin taining the Witnesses: anode such anode the depos t upon such 7 pipe and means for moving such pipe longitudinally in such tank.

21. As a means tank and an electrolyte therein, an anode adaptcdto be contained Within such pipe in outside of such pipe, a source of electric energy, conductors for supporting such pipe in such electrolyte, means for closing a c1rcuit from such source through such anodes, such electrolyte such pipe and such conductors, means for reciprocally moving such for electroplatingpipe, a

such electrolyte, an anode in such electrolyte l;

conductors laterally of such pipe, means for lateral motion of such pipe in whereby the motion of such conductors rotates such pipe and means for moving such pip longitu inally in such tank.

22-. As a means tank and anelectrolyte therein, con uctors adapted to support such pipe in such electrolyte, a source of electric energy, an anode adapted to'be contained within such pipe in such electrolyte, an anode in'such electrolyte preventing outside of such pipe, means for closing a cirf cuit from such source through such anodes, such electrolyte, such pipe and such conductors, stops'fo1; reventing. lateral motion of such pipe in suc tank, means for reciprocally moving such supporting conductors laterally of such ipe and thereby rotatin such pi e, means orrigidly connecting suc interna anode to such circuit and thereby preventing rotation of such anode and means for moving such pipe longitudinally in such tank. 1 r

23. As a means rods or pipe, a tank and an e ectrolyte therein, an anode in such electrolyte, a source of electric energy, means for sup orting such rods or pipe horizontally in suc electrolyte,-

means for closing a circuit from such source through such anode, such electrolyte and such rods or pipe and means for movin suc rods orpipe longitudinally in such ta 24. As a means for electroplating metallic pipe, a tank and an electrolyte therein conmaterial ducting anode of another material than that contained in such electrolyte and adapted to be contained within such pipe in such electrolyte, a source of electric energy, means for supporting such pipe in such electrolyte,

means for closing a circuit from such source to such anode, such electrolyte and such pipe, means for rotating such pipe and means for moving tank.

' In witness whereof I my' name this 26th day DANIEL HAYES MURPHY hereunto subscribe of October 'A. D.

W. J. UBER, R. C. McKmLnY.

for electroplating 'pe, a-

for electro lating metallic to be deposited, a con-- such pipe-longitudinally in such 

